Turning The Page -
Thursday, 02/06/2014

There is almost nothing more familiar to many generations, young and old, than the symbolic, if not physical, act that comes with the crossover into a new year. We are now into 2014 and...during the first half of January we saw a significant turnaround in the performance of municipal bond funds from what took place in November and December — indeed during the entire calendar year 2013. It leads one to wonder whether the market too is "turning the page."

Shorten Up for Rising Rates -
Tuesday, 01/21/2014

This past Tuesday we launched SHYD, Market Vectors® Short High-Yield Municipal Index ETF. SHYD seeks to track an index that only includes bonds with 1-10 years until maturity. The focus on this maturity range has generally meant lower duration — or sensitivity to changes in interest rates — and yields competitive with those of an all-maturity high yield municipal bond index. Less rate sensitivity has generally meant less of a negative impact on total return during periods of rising interest rates.

The discounts at which municipal bond closed-end funds are currently trading are deeper now than when they briefly plumbed fresh lows back in early August 2011. They have continued to widen inexorably since early March of this year. The weighted average discount of the underlying municipal bond closed-end funds in the Market Vectors CEF Municipal Income ETF (XMPT) was -9.95% on December 2, 2013. This is the widest it has been since XMPT’s inception on July 12, 2011.

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Please note that MUNI NATIONs that are written by Jim Colby represent his opinions and these opinions may change at any time and from time to time. MUNI NATION is not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results or investment advice. Current market conditions may not continue. Non-Van Eck Global proprietary information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission of Van Eck Global. MUNI NATION is a trademark of Van Eck Associates Corporation.

All indices listed are unmanaged indices and do not reflect the payment of transaction costs, advisory fees or expenses that are associated with an investment in the Fund. An index’s performance is not illustrative of the Fund’s performance. Indices are not securities in which investments can be made.

Any discussion of specific securities mentioned in the commentary is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy these securities.

Municipal bonds are subject to risks related to litigation, legislation, political change, conditions in underlying sectors or in local business communities and economies, bankruptcy or other changes in the issuer’s financial condition, and/or the discontinuance of taxes supporting the project or assets or the inability to collect revenues for the project or from the assets. Bonds and bond funds will decrease in value as interest rates rise. Additional risks include credit, interest rate, call, reinvestment, tax, market and lease obligation risk. High-yield municipal bonds are subject to greater risk of loss of income and principal than higher-rated securities, and are likely to be more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual municipal developments than those of higher-rated securities. Municipal bonds may be less liquid than taxable bonds.

The income generated from some types of municipal bonds may be subject to state and local taxes as well as to federal taxes on capital gains and may also be subject to alternative minimum tax.

Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. Bonds and bond funds will decrease in value as interest rates rise. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, call 888.MKT.VCTR | 888.658.8287. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing.